Storage means for ink-carrying draftsman&#39;s pens



y 3, 1956 R. J. DALTON STORAGE MEANS FOR INK-CARRYING DRAFTSMAN'S PENS Filed Feb. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1956 R. J. DALTON 2,752,888

STORAGE MEANS FOR INK-CARRYING DRAFTSMAN'S FENS Filed Feb. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I k aea.

"A INVENTOR odmgyclpa/fon/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,752,sss

STORAGE MEANS FOR INK-CARRYING DRAFTSMANS PENS Rodney J. Dalton, Albuqnerque, N. Mex. App ication February 10, 1954, Serial No. 409,295 Claims. (Cl. 1;20 1 08) My invention is directed to sto rage cabinet for inkcarrying draftsmans pen and, particularly lining pens.

A draftsman has occasion in inking drawings touse inking pens, such as lining pens, that carry different colored inks and which in the case of lining pens may be set for different width lines. The ink. dries out if leftin the pens and in order to re-use the pen, it must be carefully cleaned and reloaded with ink. Thus, if a pen is left in the normal atmosphere without being carefully cleaned, the ink starts immediately to dry out and thicken. After each use of a pen it must be cleaned unless it is continuously in use. This repeated cleaning and filling of a pen or pens takes up a considerable amount of the draftsmans time which could be well utilized on more productive work.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a chamber having proper, humidity conditions provided therein and with a closableaccess opening through which an ink-carrying drafting pen may be inserted and supported while not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cabinet having an absorbent material carrying chamber, a void chamber in communication with the absorbent carrying chamber, a sealable access opening in the void chamber through which a pen may be inserted and sealed from the outside atmosphere and a holder for, the pen in the void chamberwhereby a proper humidity-producing medium may be placed on the absorbentmaterial and a proper humid atmosphere is provided in the void chamber to prevent ink carriedby the pen from drying.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a permanent magnet in the humidity chamber as described above in such alignment with the pen inserting aperture therein that the pen is held by the permanent, magnet without disturbing or smearing the ink carried by the pen.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cabinet having a humidity-producing medium therein and access openings through which draftsmans inking pens may be inserted, such access openings having retractable flexible gates that seal off the openings to the outside atmosphere when pens are not inserted and also seal around the handles of the insertedpens.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. humidity cabinet as described above which has an upwardslanting face in which the access apertures are formed and on which flexible sealing gates are mounted.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a humidity cabinet as set forth above with vacuum cup supports on its bottom whereby the cabinet may be securely held on a slanting surface such as a slanting drafting board.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given thereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example is given by way of illustration only Patented July 3, 1956 and, while indicating preferred embodiment of. the invention, is not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the, spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference can be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my storage cabinet for ink carrying draftsmans pens shownresting on a table or fiat surface and with the near corner broken away to show a portion of the interior;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the underneath side of the top of the cabinet housing three separate permanent magnet units;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional elevationalongline 33 of Fig. 1 showing the suction cups holding the cabinet on the table or flat surface;

Fig. 4 is a plan and partial cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the closure or gate and its housing elements.

Throughout the various figures like reference characters refer to similar elements.

My cabinet or storage means for ink carrying draftsmans pens is generally indicated at 10 resting on a table, drafting board or other flat surface 11. The cabinet is made of plastic sheets which may be transparent which may be cut and welded together. The cabinet is about 5 by 4 inches at the base and about 4,inches high and is designed with three gates generally indicated at 12 to accommodate three pens, particularly draftsmans pens 13, see Fig. 3.

A base l4,abou t 5 inches long by 4 inches wide forms the bottom of the cabinet 10 and attached to the base proximal to each forward corner as by rivets 15. are suction cups 16 whichhold the base 14 and the cabinet 10 carried thereby on the surface 11 which may be an inclined drafting table top. The rear edge 14' of the base 14 rests directly on the surface 11. Extending upward at an acute angle of about degrees with base 14 and secured to the forward edge 14" is the face or front 17 which is about 4 inches wide and in which is mounted the gate or closure elements 12 to be described hereinafter. Extending up at right angles from the rear edge 14 of the base 14 and securedthereto is the back member 18 which is about 1% inches high. Enclosing each end are end members 19--19 which are quadrilateral with their upper edges 19', see Fig. 1, about of an inch short of the top of front 17 and back 18 thus forming a seat for the rectangular top 20 which is about ,4 of an inch thick.

Referring to Fig. 3 the back 18 has secured to its interior face a lower longitudinal strip 13, in spaced relation from the bottom edge, and an upper longitudinal strip 18" about of an inch down from the top edge. The upper longitudinal strip 18 forms a seat for the rear edge 20' of the top 20 while the lower longitudinal strip 18' serves as a barrier to hold down a perforated partition 21 whose rear edge extends into the rear lower corner. of the cabinet 10.

The front 17 has attached to its interior a lower longitudinal strip 17 which is so positioned as to hold the front edge of the partition 21 which is positioned adjacently therebelow approximately parallel to the installed top 20. An upper longitudinal face strip '17", see Fig. 3, is attached to the interior of the front 17 about 6 of an inch below the top edge and it serves as a support for the front edge 20" of the top 20. The partition 21 is formed with a plurality of spaced: apertures 21a, see Fig. 4 in particular, which permit gas communication through partition 21 from the lower absorbent carrying space designated 22 where absorbent material 22 1, such as absorbent cotton, is housed to thetop void space 23 within which the pens 13 are housed. The absorbent material issaturated with a weak solution of ammonia or another thinning agent for ink by introduction through the filling aperture 17a in the front 17 which is closed by the stopper 24. The ammonia fumes rise through the apertures 21:: in the perforated partition 21 and'provide a humid atmosphere in the pen housing space 23'thereabove. This humid atmosphere of monia fumes keeps the ink in the pens, such as 13, from drying. Thus a'pen may be inserted into the upper space 23 and held there as will hereinafter be described until it is to be used again. This greatly facilitates the use of the pen 13, such as a draftsmans inking pen, in that the ink does not'have to be cleaned off the nibs 13 of the pen each time after use.

In Figs. 3 and 4 it will be observed that the front 17 has three spaced cutout notches 17;: about 1 /4 by 1% inches in 'size'which extend from the topmost edge 171 down into the face. Secured in these notches 1711 are apertured mounting plates 25, see' Figs. 3, 4 and 5. These plates 25 have an aperture 25 extending there through from the front to the rear face which is about of an inch in diameter adequate to accommodate the nib end of a pen such as 13 without the pen contacting the wall of the aperture. While the front face 17 is about A: of an inch thick, member 25 is about A of an inch thick and it is secured in the notch 17m with its rear face flush with the rear face of front 17 so that the member 25 protrudes such as shown in Fig. 3 about /8 of an inch beyond face 17. This plate 25 which may be termed a gate or closure mounting plate has placed over its front face and protruding edges a flexible rubber membrane 26 which is the gate or closure. This membrane is very pliable and has a slit 26s cut transversely therein in a position to be in line with the bottom of the aperture 25. A flexible rubber material found admirably suitable for the gate, closure or gasket 26 is material such as is used by dentists for dental dams. Vulcanized or otherwise secured tightly to the flexible member 25 is a finger grasping knob 26k. An enclosing frame 27 has sides 27s and ends 27 and a'face formed by the front edges 27 This frame 27 fits over the mounting member 25 and its sides 27s and ends 27e secure the edges 26e of gate 26 in abutting relationship with the protruding edges of the mounting member 25, see Fig. 3. The sides 27s and the lower end 27a of the frame 27 are provided with pry grooves 27g such that member 25 so that the nib end of the pen 13 may be easily thrust through the gate at slit 26s and the aperture 25 in gate mounting member 25. Upon allowing the flexible member 26 to retract, it gathers at the slit 26s about the handle of the pen 13 and forms a tight fit therearound. While Fig. 3 shows the pen 13 inserted it may be inserted still further so that the slit 26s of gate 26 will gather around the handle proper 13%: of the pen 13.

In Fig. 2 there is a perspective view showing the interior surface of the cover 20. Mounted on cover as by rivets or screws 28 are elongated permanent magnet units 29 having pole faces 11 and s. These magnet units 29 are mounted in line with apertures in gate mounting member 25 which aperture 25' is in spaced relation below the top 20. The pole pieces 11 and s extend just below the line of the top of aperture 25' in member 25 as illustrated best in Fig. 3 and thereby form a magnetic holding piece or. means for the metal nibs 13 of pen 13.

I have provided a pen storing cabinet or enclosure:

which provides a means for easily inserting pens, such as draftsmans inking pens carrying ink into a humid storage chamber such as chamber 23. These pens 13 are held in place in the humid storage chamber 23 by permanent magnets 29. The fumes from the ammonia solution held by absorbent 20a permeate the chamber 23 and maintain the ink in the pens 13 in a fluid state always ready for use. The flexible gate member 26 with its slit 26s therein provides a tight closure about the handle of the pen 13 to prevent escape of the ammonia fumes. The cabinet with its slanting face 17 provides a mounting for the gate members generally indicated at 12 that is readily accessible for insertion and Withdrawal of the pens being housed. As an added feature the vacuum cups 16 attached to the bottom 14 of the cabinet 19 provide a rigid securing means for the cabinet to hold it on either level or inclined surfaces. The angle of the face or front 17 of the cabinet to the bottom 14 is such that even when the cabinet is mounted on a fairly steep surface such as an inclined drawing board, the front 17 is presented at an incline such that it is readily accessible for insertion and withdrawal of the pens. This storage or Penbank, as I term it, provides a ready storage for ink carrying draftsmans pens and any elements that are to be kept moist. It is a timesaver device that has proved itself most useful to draftsmen who do inking.

I claim as my invention:

1. A storage for pens comprising in combination, a cabinet having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, said lower chamber having humidity producing means therein adapted to prevent ink from drying, said upper chamber being in communication with said lower chamber and holding vapors produced by said humidity producing means in the lower chamber, said cabinet having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined planar front and a top attached to said front at its upper portion and extending at approximate right angles to said front and overlying said upper chamber, said front of the cabinet having an aperture therein in adiacent spaced relation to said top and providing access from the outside of the cabinet to the upper chamber, said aperture just named having a size relatively larger than a pen insertable therethrough so that the pen is easily inserted therethrough without touching the wall of the aperture an openable and closable movable closure attached to said front for said aperture operable from the outside of said cabinet and adapted to be moved to fully clear said pen when thrust through said aperture and upon being moved in the reverse direction to seal around the handle of a pen extending through said aperture and into said upper chamber, and holding means in said chamber adapted to support the inserted end of said pen without contacting the writing point of the pen, whereby said pen extending into said upper chamber is exposed to the humidity condition therein and said upper chamber is sealed from the atmosphere outside said cabinet when the pen is inserted therein and after the pen has been withdrawn therefrom.

2. A storage for pens according to claim 1 wherein said holding means for the end of the pen inserted into the upper chamber comprises a permanent magnet attached to the cabinet and disposed in parallel spaced relation to an axis extending through the center of said aperture and generally perpendicular to said front of the cabinet.

3. A storage for pens according to claim 1, including suction cups attached to the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to hold the cabinet on an inclined surface such as a drawing board, said bottom having a portion thereof remaining in supporting contact with the inclined surface.

4. A storage for pens according to claim I wherein said closure for the aperture in said front of the cabinet comprises a flexible rubber-like membrane secured in said front over said aperture "and having a slot therein in alignment with said aperture and means adjacent said slot attached to the flexible membrane for grasping to stretch the membrane whereby upon stretching the membrane the slit opens and permits insertion therethrough of the pen into the upper chamber without touching the membrane and upon release from its stretched condition, the slit closes around the handle of said pen.

5. A storage for pens according to claim 1 including suction cups attached to the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to hold the cabinet on an inclined surface such as a drawing board, said bottom having a portion thereof remaining in supporting contact with the inclined surface, and wherein said holding means for the end of the pen inserted into the upper chamber comprises a permanent magnet and said closure for the aperture in said front of the cabinet comprises a flexible rubber-like membrane secured to said front over said aperture and having a slit therein in alignment with said aperture and means adjacent said slot attached to the flexible membrane for grasping to stretch the membrane whereby upon stretching said membrane the slit opens and permits insertion therethrough of the pen into the upper chamber without touching the membrane and upon release from the stretched condition, the slit closes around the handle of said pen.

6. A storage for draftsmans inking pens carrying entrapped ink comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a flat base, a front inclined at an angle of about 60 degrees to the base, a top extending approximately at right angles to said front, a back connecting the bottom and the top, and end members, an apertured partition within the cabinet extending from the juncture of the bank with the bottom to the front in approximate parallelism to said top, thereby forming a lower chamber below the partition and an upper chamber above the partition, a carrier in said lower chamber for a humidifying agent for ink, such as a weak ammonia solution, said humidifying agent providing vapors which rise through said apertured partition into said upper chamber, said front of the cabinet having a plurality of spaced apart apertures adjacent its upper edge permitting access into said upper chamber and through which a draftsmans pen may be freely inserted without contacting the front of the cabinet, and openable and closable movable closure member attached to said front for each of said apertures and operable from the outside of said cabinet and adapted to be moved to fully clear said pen when thrust through said aperture and upon being moved in the rear reverse direction to seal around the handle of a pen extending through said aperture and into said upper chamber, and holding means in said upper chamber adapted to support said pen extending into said upper chamber and exposed to the humidity condition therein without contacting the writing point of the pen and said upper chamber is sealed from the atmosphere outside said cabinet when the pen is inserted therein and after the pen has been withdrawn therefrom and whereby the ink in said ink carrying pen when inserted into said upper chamber is held in a liquid and undrying state.

7. A storage for pens according to claim 6 wherein said holding means for the end of pen inserted into the upper chamber through one of said apertures comprises a permanent magnet for each of said apertures supported in said upper chamber in a position in approximate alignment with the aperture so that the pen is held in approximate parallel attitude to said top and perpendicular to said front.

8. A storage for pens according to claim 6 including suction cups attached to the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to hold the cabinet on an inclined surface such as a drawing board, said bottom having a portion thereof remaining in supporting contact on the inclined surface.

9. A storage for pens according to claim 6 wherein said closure for the aperture in said front of the cabinet comprises a flexible rubber-like membrane secured to said front over said aperture and having a slit therein in alignment with said aperture and means adjacent said slot attached to said membrane for grasping to stretch the membrane whereby upon stretching the membrane the slit opens and permits insertion therethrough of the pen into the upper chamber and upon release from its stretched condition, the slit closes around the handle of said pen.

10. A storage for pens according to claim 6 including suction cups attached to the bottom of said cabinet adjacent the forward edge and adapted to hold the cabinet on an inclined surface such as a draftsmans table and wherein said holding means for the end of the pen inserted into the upper chamber comprises a permanent magnet and said closure for the aperture in said front of the cabinet comprises a flexible rubber-like membrane secured to said front over said aperture and having a slit therein in alignment with said aperture and means adjacent said slot attached to the flexible membrane for grasping to stretch the membrane whereby upon stretching said membrane the slit opens and permits insertion therethrough of the pen into the upper chamber without touching the membrane and upon release from its stretched condition, the slit closes around the handle of said pen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 30,270 Warren Oct. 2, 1860 630,055 Hopkins Aug. 1, 1899 2,006,843 Russell July 2, 1935 2,162,865 Sewell June 20, 1939 2,600,589 Swanson June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 270,109 Germany Feb. 6, 1901 

